Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day

Arthur Dove will be featured in the Frist's newest exhibit.

What are you getting your honey for Valentine's Day? 

My hubz and I exchanged last night (oops!) because he got me a fabulous gift that I would start using this weekend if I had it.  He got us a dual membership to the Frist Center, Nashville's premier art museum.  With the membership, we get free unlimited entry to every exhibit, free audio guides, and access to special events (among some other things).  We try to keep life on a tight budget right now so date night options are limited.  This, however, will allow us to go to an art museum whenever the fancy arises (and for me, that's often).  I can't be more thrilled about it as it will save money and let me go to all of the exhibits I want as many times as I want- yes I am that person :)  Plus, I love giving and getting experiences as gifts instead of just stuff.

So if you are looking for a V-Day gift idea for your sweetie, check out what your city has to offer in terms of memberships to museums, theaters and the such.  If you're in Nashville, definitely consider the Frist!

Artist Highlight, DISCOUNT CODE and Giveaway!! Jo Arty Jo

So I am a HUGE proponent of educational gifts for kiddos and unique gifts for adults.  Jo Arty Jo has both.  AND THEY ARE AWESOME!  Seriously.  If you have kids on your list for Christmas, consider these coloring sheets.  They will really force your little munchkins to concentrate on staying in the lines and they will open their world to creative geometry and art!  If you have men and women on your list, check out these original pieces of art because they are fabulous.  Also, be sure to check out this inspiring interview, enter the giveaway, AND check out that discount!  Holiday deals aren't over yet!

Original Elephant

Hi Jo Welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your awesome original drawings.
Hi and thanks! I am a stay at home mummy and self taught artist from St Albans in the UK. At the moment I am more than a little bit addicted to drawing with my black fineliner on white paper. I love the contrast! I occasionally add some color too, but usually stick to just the one. My work is mainly abstract, some zentangles. I draw whatever pops into my head, I find it very therapeutic and relaxing after a long day!
I am particulary addicted to making ACEO (art cards, editions and originals). These are collectable art cards which measure 2.5” x 3.5”, baseball card size! They are a way to collect affordable original art, fantastic idea- I like being a collector as well as an artist!

AWESOME Planner!!

Besides all of the drawings you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?
My life at the moment is run by my little boy. I am so lucky to have him and not have to go out work. I draw and work on my shop while he is asleep. When he is awake I run around after him, take him to fun places, have play dates and generally try to keep him occupied and entertained. He is almost 20 months and has a LOT of energy!

What first drew you to drawing?
I have loved to draw for as long as I can remember. I started drawing more recently since I became a stay at home mum- I opened my Etsy shop so I have a hobby and second income, and to give myself some ‘me time’.

Coloring Sheet

What advice would you give to aspiring artists and Etsy shop owners?
Always create what you love. There is no point trying to create something because you ‘think it will sell’ if you don’t LOVE it. Art is about being inspired, loving what you do, and letting this shine through in your work.

Where else can we find you?
Etsy: www.JoArtyJo.etsy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoArtyJo
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/JoArtyJo
Pinterst: www.pinterest.com/jo1984


In addition to such inspiring words, JoArtyJo is hosting a giveaway here at A Girl and Her Scout! Jo will be giving away a set of 3 printable zentangle coloring pages:

Seen Here

The winner will be chosen (via a random assorter) on December 5th so be sure to get in your entries by then!

To enter, head over to her Etsy Store, Jo Arty Jo, and leave a comment here about your favorite item(s). Additional entries for: 1) becoming a first time follower of A Girl and Her Scout 2) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your blog 3) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your facebook and/or twitter 4) “Hearting” or adding Jo Arty Jo to your “Favorites” on Etsy and/or 5) making a purchase out of her store (one entry for every purchase). Be sure to leave a new comment for each additional entry!


In addition, until 31 December 2011 she will be offering a 15% discount to all A Girl and Her Scout readers! YAY!!! Just use key word “girlandherscout" at check out to receive your discount.

Artist Highlight, Giveaway and Discount! Melanie Caskey Photography

Just in time for Black Friday Shopping... check out this great interview with Melanie of Melanie Caskey Photography!  She's offering a discount and giveaway and her shop is filled with great wall art for everyone on your list!

2012 Calendar

 Besides all of the photography you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?I have this odd fascination with nature, the figure, and how those two things interact. So a lot of my work outside of photography is centered around the human figure in its most natural state. Gestural line drawings with watercolor washes really speak to me! I also have a degree in ceramics. So my interests are in a variety of places, but photography is my greatest passion. 

What first drew you to photography?
My parents bought me a Nikon N60 when I was in high school. After that, I took two years of classes (all film, of course) and decided I was going to go to get an art degree, focus my time in photography, and build a life out of it. Little did I know, the school I wanted to go to so badly did not have a photography program, but one (very talented) photography professor. So I dabbled in a little bit of everything, landed in ceramics, and now I'm back to where I started & loving every second of it! 

Tree Bark

Where do you find the subjects for your photographs?
I google "parks", drive to the one that is closest to my current location, and I hope I find something interesting. You would never know it, but most of my photographs are taken in heavily populated urban areas. I find a section of a tree, flower, anything that catches my eye and work around it until somethings beautiful happens in my camera. I just hope the people around me don't think I look too ridiculous crouched on the ground, walking in circles. 

What advice would you give to aspiring artists and Etsy shop owners?
Do what you love. I heard this somewhere once, "If people see that you do what you love, they will love what you do". Also, don't be afraid to put yourself out there and brag a little. Learn how to talk about your work and surround yourself with it! Most of all, don't get down on yourself if you don't meet your goals the first time (or the second time). No one ever said being an artist was easy, it's our determination that keeps people coming back. 

Vintage Book

Where else can we find you?
Let's see... My blog is here: http://melaniecaskey.blogspot.com/

My Flickr is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniecaskey/

My Twitter machine is here: https://twitter.com/#!/MelanieCaskey

My Etsy Shop is here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MelanieCaskey 

 

In addition to such inspiring words, Melanie Caskey Photography is hosting a giveaway here at A Girl and Her Scout! Melanie will be giving away an 5x7 print of your choice. 

White Wild Flowers

The winner will be chosen (via a random assorter) on November 28th so be sure to get in your entries by then!


To enter, head over to her Etsy Store, Melanie Caskey Photography, and leave a comment here about your favorite item(s). Additional entries for: 1) becoming a first time follower of A Girl and Her Scout 2) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your blog 3) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your facebook and/or twitter 4) “Hearting” or adding Melanie Caskey Photography to your “Favorites” on Etsy and/or 5) making a purchase out of her store (one entry for every purchase). Be sure to leave a new comment for each additional entry!


In addition, until December 8th she will be offering a  15 % discount to all A Girl and Her Scout readers! YAY!!! Just use key word “girlandherscout" at check out to receive your discount.

Artist Highlight and Giveaway: White Bear!

Anybody know what time it is?  HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIME!!  That's right folks, the holidays are upon us, that's why I am super duper excited to introduce you to Lindsay from White Bear who is incredibly inspiring and is hosting a giveaway for you lovely and creative readers AND is giving us a code for FREE SHIPPING!!  Her shop is filled with uber unique and perfect finds for the holidays and great accessories for yourself for some festive holiday partoes so be sure to hop on over!  Check out her coolness below and leave a comment to win!

Awesome Lace Earrings!

Hi Lindsay! Welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your fun accessories.

Well hello there! Thank you so much for having me. This is my first interview so excuse me if I get all giggly and start to ramble...I'm pretty excited. Anyhow, a little about me...I am a 26 year old native New Yorker (yes, Manhattan...) who moved to sunny Miami Beach almost three years ago. It was too cold for me up there, so I opted for the warmer life. I was a professional actress and dancer since age three but decided to take a break from that crazy life and concentrate on my other love, jewelry. My mother had her own accessory company when I was a kid which got my sister and I into creating fun things at a very early age. I've been making my own jewelry for about 15 years now! Only recently did I finally start selling my creations because I got tired of my friends saying, "You need to start your own company! We love your jewelry too much!" So, here I am.... Creating, selling, living and loving. I reside on the ocean with my puppy Chloe and my amazing boyfriend John, (who is a chef!) Yeah, life is good.

So as for my accessories, well I do a little bit of everything. I make beaded earrings, make headbands of all sorts, I dabble in feather extensions and my new favorite thing is LACE! I think it is so simple and girly but can be made into something so extravagant and exotic. The versatility it provides is extremely exciting for a designer. I hand paint all of my lace and try and create a new and interesting statement piece that no one has ever seen before! 

Hand Dyed and Crochet Necklace

Besides all of the accessories you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?

Since I live on the water, we are always on the beach or in a pool! It's really too hot here not to be! I also love photography, interior decorating, fashion, website designing, dancing, singing, I'm starting to do real estate, promotional modeling, event planning...yeah I kind of do a little bit of everything. I'm weird and ambitious like that lol. I'm a rockstar.

What first drew you to making accessories?

I am a creative person, through and through. Whether it's acting on a stage, singing karaoke at a local bar, helping a friend decorate an apartment or doing a photo shoot of my jewelry...I am ALWAYS creating. Art is all around us and it's just too much fun to not be making something beautiful constantly! Designing jewelry and accessories is a fantastic way for me to get all of my built up creative energy out there for the world to enjoy.

Tassel Earrings- SO great for Holiday Parties!

What advice would you give to aspiring artists and Etsy shop owners?

If something isn't working, find out why and change it. My motto in life (which many people think is silly, but it works for me...) is "never be satisfied." There is always room to improve something. Take different pictures, think like a buyer, find your niche, try different ideas. At first I wasn't getting sales, so I thought to ask around for suggestions, for help. I was told to change up my photos on Etsy because they weren't clear and bright enough. I did what was suggested and honestly, it was like magic. Business began to pick up instantly. So if something isn't working, if you aren't happy, if the sales aren't coming in...it's usually for a reason. Ask for help. Change it up. Live life on the edge. It can't hurt!

Where else can we find you?

You can check me out on facebook for special sales, giveaways, etc: www.facebook.com/WhiteBearAccessories

I also have a blog I'm trying to get going at www.WhiteBearAccessories.blogspot.com

And my personal site: www.LindsayBleier.com

In addition to such inspiring words, White Bear (such a great name!) is hosting a giveaway here at A Girl and Her Scout! Lindsay will be giving away these fabulous lace earrings in any colors you want! 

The winner will be chosen (via a random assorter) on December 1st so be sure to get in your entries by then!

To enter, head over to her Etsy Store, White Bear, and leave a comment here about your favorite item(s). Additional entries for: 1) becoming a first time follower of A Girl and Her Scout 2) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your blog 3) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your facebook and/or twitter 4) “Hearting” or adding White Bear to your “Favorites” on Etsy  and/ or 5) making a purchase out of her store (one entry for every purchase) Be sure to leave a new comment for each additional entry!

Don't forget, you can get free shipping over at her shop!  Use coupon code "girlscout" to receive that wonderful discount.  It's what's so annoying about shopping on the internet right?!  Can't stop you now! 

Artist Highlight and Giveaway: Nichoir!

Today I am so pleased to introduce Missy from Nichoir.  She has the best feather hair accessories that are perfect for all ages and make great stocking stuffers... just sayin :)  Check out her inspiring interview, discount code and enter her giveaway below!  Welcome Missy and thanks to all for stopping by!

Hi Missy! Welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your fun feather accessories.

Hi all!  I was born, raised, and still reside in Eastern Washington State. My accessories are inspired by my surroundings, where else then the Pacific Northwest do you see the desert, mountains, rain forest, and ocean all in a couple hours on a Sunday drive? 

I've been a hairstylist since I was 18, my passion for what I do and my love for fashion led me to making hair accessories which turned into more. In addition to hair accessories I also make jewelry,  keychains, and recently started creating Christmas tree ornaments and book marks. Who knows what I'll be inspired to create next. 

Besides all of the accessories you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?
Oh, so much. I'm an outdoorsy girl. I love to travel, camp, and hike. I'm also a big movie buff and book nerd when I can find the time between working, creating and crafting, and keeping up with my 13 year old daughter's activities, arts, and sports. I also love paper crafts and photography. 

What first drew you to using feathers in your accessories and making accessories in general?

Arts and crafting is in my blood. My mom and my daughter are both china painters and are seriously good at it. My mom once placed fifth in the World China Painters Association Competition, and my daughter once placed first in her age category in the Washington State China Painters Competition. (sorry- I couldn't help bragging on the family a little) I have two sisters, one is a professional writer, and one makes soaps and used to make hemp jewelry and pottery. So when you come from a creative family or are surrounded by creative people and artists you never even question if you can do something, it's only a matter of finding what you have a love for.  

I've always loved birds and feathers. I remember growing up my grandma's house was my favorite place because she had art prints with birds and all these carvings and figurines of birds in her house, which has now started happening in my own house. I started making hair accessories for myself and my daughter and loved creating them so much that I decided to open an Etsy shop really just as an excuse to spend more time creating them. 

What advice would you give to aspiring artists and Etsy shop owners?

Create what you have a passion for, put your heart into all your work. Especially when it's something you are making for somebody else, when you create something you're putting a little piece of yourself into it, and when your art is in the hands of someone else they should be holding the best of you. 

Where else can we find you?

You can keep up with me and what's new at Nichoir on Facebook-  www.facebook.com/nichoir

In addition to such inspiring words, Nichoir is hosting a giveaway here at A Girl and Her Scout! Missy will be giving away  a hair feather extension clip, keychain, or pair of earrings with feathers of your choice (under a $20 limit).  This giveaway is open to US residents only.

 

The winner will be chosen (via a random assorter) on December 1, 2011 so be sure to get in your entries by then!

To enter, head over to her Etsy Store, Nichoir, and leave a comment here about your favorite item(s). Additional entries for: 1) becoming a first time follower of A Girl and Her Scout 2) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your blog 3) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your facebook and/or twitter 4) “Hearting” or adding Nichoir to your “Favorites” on Etsy  5) making a purchase out of her store (one entry for every purchase) and/or 6) Liking Nichoir on Facebook. Be sure to leave a new comment for each additional entry!

In addition, until December 31, 2011 she will be offering a 15% discount to all A Girl and Her Scout readers! YAY!!! Just use key word “girlandherscout" at check out to receive your discount.

Artist Highlight: Valeria Fast

This week, I am pleased to introduce a fabulous international seller, Valeria Fast.  Read her interview some great tips, inspiration, and fun and be sure to check out her discount code for her store.  Don't forget... Christmas is just around the corner :)

Silver Necklace

Hi Valeria Welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your beautiful jewelry.

I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am a wife and mom to a beautiful 2 years old baby. I have a degree in Fine Art with major in ceramics and also in Psychology. I have a formal work as a trainer, and in my free time, I love to work in my jewelry. I´m always thinking in new designs, updates to current ones and searching for new materials! 

Silver Studs

Besides all of the jewelry you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?

My life outside of crafts includes meeting friends, playing with my baby and supporting husband, working in my garden, repairing old furniture, going to the cinema, going to the countryside, traveling and reading, among other things…..
 

What first drew you to jewelry making?
Since I was a child, I loved art and always knew I would work in something related to it. The following day I obtained my degree in Psychology I began to study fine arts. I have my own atelier where I deliver classes and in several occasions my artwork was exhibited and awarded.  From 2006 to 2007 I lived in Italy, where I began to dive into Contemporary Jewelry. I felt so in love that I wanted to begin working in jewelry immediately! Most of the techniques are the same used in sculpture. Contemporary Jewelry is not related to fashion but to art.  Working with jewels, allows me to create a small piece of art able to be wear, something you cannot do with your canvas or your sculptures!

What inspires you? 
Nature, colors, geometrical shapes, textures, architecture….I would say that everything that surrounds you, could be a good trigger if you have an open mind.

Tribal Earrings

What advice would you give to aspiring artists and Etsy shop owners?

Be honest with you. Follow your heart. Offer something uniquely different. Express yourself in your work.  Work hard and push, push, push….

And hear the master´s voice: 
Napoleon Bonaparte: “Victory belongs to the most persevering". 
Pablo Picasso: "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" 
T. A. Edison: "Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration"

What's it like being an international seller? 
Being an international seller is not so easy. Despite you know the language, you don´t know the usual/common words to describe products; so selecting good tags can be challenging.  Also, being far from your clients increases shipments costs and timelines for products arrival. But anyway I feel very lucky to have my Etsy shop and being able to share my art.

Beaded Necklace

 In addition to such inspiring words, until Sunday, November 6^th at midnight, Valeria Fast will be offering a 10% discount to all A Girl and Her Scout readers in her shop! YAY!!! Just use key word “girlandherscout" at check out to receive your discount.

For the Men In Your Life...

Dillion from the blog An Integral Design added my personalized Men's stationary to his birthday wishlist!  Thanks for the feature Dillion!  I hope you get it :)

Introducing....

 

They are new to the shop and fabulous if I do say so myself.  They are called "Custom Family Portraits with Words."  AKA you send me some words that describe your family (or just go with the ones in the example), choose a color that fits your decor, and I provide you with a high quality one of a kind, meaningful print for your home or for someone else's.

  

I'm kind of obsessed with them because everyone that has gotten one is IN LOVE.  What a personal way to decorate your space!  If you are interested in other sizes, I can do them and at different price points.  Just let me know what you want.  I am working on listing the new sizes and versions for couples, babies, grandparents, etc.  I can definitely make those for you now though.  Just email me at agirlandherscout@gmail.com.  Basically, you get awesomeness for a really affordable price!   Perfect Christmas gifts!

You can find them here.  

Artist Highlight and Giveaway: Daisy Dog Creations!!

I am so excited to introduce Laurie of Daisy Dog Creations to you today!  She has a great shop filled with pet accessories and has a great heart.  She donates 10% of all proceeds to a local animal rescue group that she works with.  Snaps for that!!  See below for Laurie's interview which includes great shop tips,  A GIVEAWAY, and a DISCOUNT CODE for her shop for all A Girl and Her Scout readers!

Hi Daisy Dog Creations! Welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your fun pet accessories.
My name is Laurie and I live in Connecticut with my two cats, Sabrina and Sam and my newly adopted Cocker Spaniel, Charlie. Charlie is a rescue that came with a lot of medical problems.   Let's just say I call him my little money pit.  LOL. I started out fostering him but then fell in love immediately so I had to adopt him. I love to craft; I've been crafting since I was a small child.  If I didn't have a constant creative outlet, I'd go crazy.

I think my favorite thing to do in the craft area is sew home accessories and decor and craft items.   I could absolutely live in a fabric store! I will buy fabric just because it's pretty and have no idea what I'll do with it but I gotta have it.  When I adopted Charlie earlier this year I began looking for really  nice collars and leashes; I found a few but they were expensive. One day I was looking at one of his collars and I thought "I could make this."  I went to the store, got some supplies (and of course, more fabric!) and made a collar that night.  The problem was, Charlie now had too many collars!  So I decided to try my hand at selling them to friends and family and when that went well I decided to try selling them on Etsy.    I  just started on Etsy but so far so good.  I'm now working on a line of leash bags (to hold the poop bags), harnesses and leashes.   I still don't have all my inventory on Etsy but I'm getting there.  The name DaisyDog comes partly from my beloved cat, Daisy, who passed away earlier this year at age 17.   I also donate collars to non-profit animal rescue groups. 

 

Besides the dog collars you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?
I love to garden when I have time.   I also love to scour flea markets and garage sales for vintage items for my home.   The older the better!   I also like to scrapbook and make jewelry.   And thanks to Charlie, I now really enjoy walking on a new trail behind my house. 

What first drew you to pet accessories?
I started working part time at a local dog bakery/store and I saw all the accessories available for dogs and was surprised by the variety.  I hadn't lived with a dog since I was a child (many, many years ago) and at the time I only had cats.    Then when I adopted Charlie, I just turned my sewing and crafting in that direction.  I "test" all my products on Charlie (he's very patient) and if I won't let Charlie wear it, I won't sell it.   

What advice would you give to aspiring artists and Etsy shop owners?
Don't give up.   I really started this as a hobby and it's slowly but surely taking off.   I just got a couple requests for wholesale orders!   I would also strongly recomment networking.  I had no idea what that was when I first started but the more you get your name and product out there, the better.   Another thing I strongly believe in is "pay it forward".  I got a lot of help with my Etsy shop from total strangers on Etsy; we are all competing for sales and yet many people helped me out when I first started.  I try to do the same for other Etsians.    I've even purchased a couple items on Etsy to help out a new seller.  

Where else can we find you?I just started my blog:  Daisy Dog Creations.    It's mostly about my adventures as a first time dog owner and some great items I've found on Etsy.   You can also find DaisyDogCreations on Facebook.  

In addition to such inspiring words, Daisy Dog Creations is hosting a giveaway here at A Girl and Her Scout! She will be giving away a dog collar of the winner's choice from her Etsy shop plus an added surprise!  The winner will be chosen (via a random assorter) on 10/01/11 so be sure to get in your entries by then!

To enter, head over to her Etsy Store, Daisy Dog Creations, and leave a comment here about your favorite item(s). Additional entries for: 1) becoming a first time follower of A Girl and Her Scout 2) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your blog 3) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your facebook and/or twitter 4) “Hearting” or adding DaisyDogCreations to your “Favorites” on Etsy 5) Following Laurie's blog and/or 6) making a purchase out of her store (one entry for every purchase). Be sure to leave a new comment for each additional entry!

In addition, until 10/01/2011 she will be offering a 15% discount to all A Girl and Her Scout readers! YAY!!! Just use key word “girlandherscout" at check out to receive your discount.

Autumn Stationary

I love to have some fun stationary around to send fun notes to people.  I created these fun (and very inexpensive) notecards for the fall yesterday and put them in the shop.  I'm thinking about making some with the stamp and some bunting.  I'll be sure to post those soon!  

Autumn Owl Stationary by hoop~da~loop

Cherry Blossom Time

Cherry Blossom Stamps

These past two weeks I was able to see lots of friends as I headed back to Nashville for work.  It was EXTREMELY busy, but very wonderful.  One of our good friends is from DC and he was excited to head back to see the cherry blossoms.  I love cherry blossoms, especially the ones in DC since they were given as a sort of peace offering from Japan.

London, England

Cherry Blossom Abstract

Midweek Artist Interview and GIVEAWAY!!! Reinvintage Jewelry

It's time for the midweek artist people!! Get excited!! Today I am welcoming Traci, the lovely wife of one of our previous featured artists Scott from Reinvintage Arts. (Love a creative duo in love!)  She is a jeweler that repurposes vintage wares into beautiful designs and sells the in her store, Reinvintage Jewelry.  Sustainable? yes. Creative? yes. Wonderful? yes!

Some of my favorite items from her store:

 Token Travel Charm 

 Keys, Keys, and more Keys Necklace 

 A Pair In the Hand Earrings

Hey Traci! Welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your wonderful jewelry design.
I've been in Florida for several years now and it is, by far, my favorite of our temporary homes. My husband Scott of 19 years has a job that requires relocation from time to time and we've lived throughout the southeast. I have home schooled my two wonderful daughters from elementary to high school. They are my pride and joy. I work primarily in the re-purpose or altered art part of the craft, using vintage jewelry elements and an odd lot of antique collectibles, basically anything interesting I can fashion into jewelry. Whenever I look at an old object, whether it's a frozen Charlotte doll, a few milk bottle toppers or a tintype photo, I find myself asking “Can I use that in a piece of jewelry?”.

Besides the jewelry you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?
I love music and I love to dance. Give me a new playlist and enough room to move my feet and I'll dance for hours. My girls and I frequently find ourselves singing and dancing until we collapse.

What first drew you to jewelry design, especially re-purposing vintage items?
I've always gravitated to older jewelry, but only recently stumbled across altering them, essentially by need. I had a couple of older pieces that were damaged and refashioned them into one new piece. At first I wasn't sure I could do it, but then I found myself “dissecting” other pieces I had that I didn't like the way they were. After a dozen new pieces, I was hooked.

What inspires what you put in your shop?
Everything inspires me. For instance, we went to the Renaissance Fair in early February and as soon as I got home, I started thinking of different ways to incorporate some of the feminine elements I saw at the fair. The lovely pinks and greens of the fairies and the deeper blacks and reds adorning some of the wenches. As a general rule, I never make anything that I won't wear myself. In fact, it's often difficult to let go of a piece once it's complete.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists and Etsy shop owners?
Whether you are online or working locally, networking is essential. I've learned so much from all the local craftswomen here and made some great new friends. Online, I've found more answers about the origins of my pieces from teams and forums than from the research sites.

Where else can we find you?
If you're local to South Florida, you can probably find me at any of the underground Craft shows. Next week I'm doing my first “mainstream” event, the Green Expo with the City of Plantation, comprising of eco-friendly businesses and vendors. In March, I have an event at the Kreepy Tiki, hosted by the Kreepy Kittens and also will be a vendor at the Odd Duck craft show. For more local events or to keep up with my new listings, visit my facebook fan page here.

In addition to such inspiring words, Traci is hosting a giveaway here at A Girl and Her Scout! She will be giving away this Keying of the Forest Necklace. This one of a kind gold necklace has a painted turn of the century skeleton key, a lion pendant, and is accented with an orange ribbon and amber beadwork.

 

The winner will be chosen (via a random assorter) on April 23rd so be sure to get in your entries by then!

To enter, head over to her Etsy Store, Reinvintagejewelry, and leave a comment here about your favorite item(s). Additional entries for: 1) becoming a first time follower of A Girl and Her Scout 2) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your blog 3) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your facebook and/or twitter 4) “Hearting” or adding Reinvintagejewelry to your “Favorites” on Etsy and/or 5) making a purchase out of her store (one entry for every purchase). Be sure to leave a new comment for each additional entry!

In addition, until April 23rd she will be offering a 10% discount to all A Girl and Her Scout readers! YAY!!! Just use key word “girlandherscout" at check out to receive your discount.

Midweek Artist Interview and Giveaway! HelloAgainVintage

Here's a little midweek interview, giveaway, and discount code from vintage dealer Grace from Hello Again Vintage who has the cutest vintage clothes in her shop.  I could totally rock this emerald dress tomorrow for St. Patrick's Day :)

My faves:

1970s Samuel Blue Emerald Dress

1960s Vanity Fair Dress Slip 

Cheetah Pendant Necklace 

 

Hey Grace! Welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your wonderful vintage collection.
I have lived in New Jersey all my life. And I’ve always had a love for fashion. After graduating college in 2006 and getting caught in the economic slump, I started my own business, Hello Again Vintage. Since then, it’s been my priority and I love it.

Besides the vintage clothing and accessories you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?
I recently learned to sew so lately have been working on reconstructing old, drab clothes.

What first drew you to vintage wares?
My parents were always pretty cheap so ever since I was little, going to garage sales, flea markets, and thrift stores became a weekend ritual. My very first find was a Vintage 1980’s Orphan Annie Doll – I loved her little red dress.

What inspires you?
A lot of my inspiration comes to me while browsing fashion/design blogs & magazines and from seeing others personal style. Here is my little collection of photos, videos, and quotes that keep me motivated.

What advice would you give to aspiring vintage artists and Etsy shop owners?
Buy and sell what you love. Because vintage clothing and accessories are not always perfect, you’ll have to follow your gut. After a while, you’ll get a feel of what’s sellable and what’s not.

Find Grace on her blog, Facebook page, and Twitter.

In addition to such inspiring words, Hello Again Vintage is hosting a giveaway here at A Girl and Her Scout! She will be giving away this Vintage 1980’s Flower Necklace.

 

The winner will be chosen (via a random assorter) on April 2nd so be sure to get in your entries by then!

To enter, head over to her Etsy Store, Hello Again Vintage, and leave
a comment here about your favorite item(s). Additional entries for:
1) Become a first time follower of A Girl and Her Scout
2) Post this giveaway with a link to my blog on your blog
3) Post this giveaway with a link to my blog on your facebook and/or twitter
4) “Heart”or add Hello Again Vintage to your “Favorites” on Etsy and/or
5) Making a purchase out of her store (one entry for every purchase).
**Be sure to leave a new comment for each additional entry!

In addition, until March 31st she will be offering a 15% discount to all A Girl and Her Scout readers! YAY!!! Just use key word GIRLANDHERSCOUT at check out to receive your discount.

St. Patricks Day Inspiration

Well I'm out of town this week for work so sorry we've been light on posts a bit this week.  I just wanted to stop by and share some early St. Patty's Day cheer.  Being of Irish decent and rather proud of that heritage, I'm already planning my outfit for St. Patrick's Day festivities.  Check out these lovlies for your own St. Patty's day pinch prevention.  :)

Foilage Scarf

Emerald Necklace 

St. Patty's Flats 

What's your favorite St. Patrick's day activity?

I love me a Bailey's milkshake and I would love to go to Chicago to see the river run green!

PS- Two giveaways end tomorrow at midnight.  Be sure to get your entries in now!  See the right sidebar for details :)  Good luck!

Artist Highlight and Giveaway: Mellow Mermaid!

 To get this spring break party started, I would like to introduce an awesome artist and vintage collector that not only has an Etsy shop for her vintage wares, but a brick and mortar shop as well.  Oooolalala :)  Lori has the cutest items in her shop, Mellow Mermaid.  I literally spent an hour going through it and had so many favorites that I had to remove half of them so my blog post was readable.  Anyways, you get the point... So without further ado here is Lori from Mellow Mermaid with an interview, discount (I'm totally using it!), and giveaway (a gift card!) here!

Some of my favorites from her store:

Vintage Train Case

Upcycled Wall Sconces 

Stiched Map of the South Pillow

Fabulous Vintage Crewel Work

Besides the vintage items you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?
My college degree is in Studio Art & Art History. I've been fortunate to have always worked in the arts. My many "Art" hats include: Gallery Artist; Art Teacher; Artist in Residence; Summer Art Camp Director; Gallery Sales; Ceramicist; Painter; Mixed Media Artist; Decorator; Creative Recycler.

I opened my brick & mortar shop in 2005 in a rented space at an Antique Mall in Virginia Beach. My plan was to use this as a test market for a shop I would open in a historic beach cottage 2 blocks from the Oceanfront. Six years later, I still fantasize about my vision for Mellow Mermaid Studio, but my terror of being trapped indoors keeps me from seeing it to fruition. My shop at Barrett Street Antiques is still going strong. I work there 1 day every week or two, rearranging, restocking & merchandising. I spend the rest of my time working in my home art studio, where I can see the ocean from the deck where I prefer to work whenever the weather cooperates.

I treasure hunt regularly & especially love it when I'm traveling. Thrift shopping is like a social experiment for me. I learn so much about the people from the things they cast aside. I love imaging the stories of how an item ended up on a shelf in Goodwill store. I even once found a pair of framed postcards that I had designed for a postcard company, while living in New Orleans. The cards were large colorful underwater & beach scenes that sold in the Caymans, Bermuda & Virgin Islands in the 1990's (Maybe still do). How they ended up professionally framed in Virginia made me wonder, smile & know what it feels like to have your "art" be discarded. Better that than in a land fill, anyone's trash is someone else's treasure, no matter who you are.

I make up my days as I go. My time goes to gardening in my over crowded cottage rose & perennial garden, photographing & posting Etsy finds, making stuff in my studio, loving my family, wishing I had a personal organic chef to feed us, and collecting washed up sea glass, shells, driftwood (& trash) while I walk the beach with our very funny looking dog, Josie. Running on the beach helps keep her personality disorder in check. She probably says that about me.

What first drew you to vintage wares?
My parents both were thrifters & vintage recyclers long before it was chic. Dad used to pull our green Chevy station wagon over on trash day to pick up floor lamps & lawn furniture from the curbside, while I hid on the floor biting my finger nails & praying no one from my junior high school would id the car. Mom painted, refinished or 'antiqued' every piece of furniture in our house. They taught me to see possibility in everything. When I was 9, we moved from coastal California to the east coast & our new home was near a landfill turned city park, called Mount Trashmore. I made a decision to do my part in not adding any more than was absolutely unavoidable to any more mountains of trash.

What inspires what you put in your shop?
I'm like a magpie, with an eye for anything that glitters with images from my childhood. I'm always attracted to things we had in our homes in the seventies & eighties. Often times, that meant mid century modernist, crushed velvet upholstery, swag lamps and seventies crafts. I love finding things that make me smile. I figure if it works for me, it probably will for someone else. Color is my muse. Every room in my house is a different color, I can always find just the right spot to suit whatever my mood happens to be. I have to rearrange my Etsy shop whenever I post new items, so the many colors aren't conflicting.

What advice would you give to aspiring vintage artists and Etsy shop owners?
Don't be afraid to 'just do it'. If you find you aren't getting as much activity as you'd hope for, join a team. Make treasuries. Help others when you can, I've found that my most active selling times coincide with when I've been paying it forward by promoting other Etsy sellers. My main attraction to Etsy is the spirit of sharing the love & encouraging others. I've found that whenever I get outside of my own concerns about if MY shop is successful enough, & focus outside of MYself, the positive energy flows. Kind of like life, huh?

Where else can we find you?
If you're ever visiting coastal Virginia, you can check out my shop at Barrett Street Antiques. You'll find beach inspired home decor, cottage style brightly painted furniture, hand made souvenirs & things you just have to have to make you smile! I also have a 1950's-80's retro home decor shop there, as well as an antique, vintage & hand crafted jewelry display case. The warehouse is nearly 30,000 square feet of showroom space where 200 vendors sell their vintage wares. Great fun on a rainy day! And... Greyhound will ship your loot home for you if it doesn't fit in your luggage, or you could just purchase a vintage Samsonite suitcase from me while you're there. :)
 

Also, my website is embarrassingly amateurish, but is on my list of things to focus on in 2011, you can find it here. 

In addition to such inspiring words (for real!), Lori is hosting a giveaway here at A Girl and Her Scout! She will be giving away a $25.00 gift certificate to be used in her Etsy shop, Mellow Mermaid to use on cute things like this:

  Antique German Children's Dish

The winner will be chosen (via a random assorter) on March 30th so be sure to get in your entries by then!

 

To enter, head over to her Etsy Store, Mellow Mermaid, and leave a comment here about your favorite item(s). Additional entries for: 1) becoming a first time follower of A Girl and Her Scout 2) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your blog 3) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your facebook and/or twitter 4) “Hearting” or adding Mellow Mermaid to your “Favorites” on Etsy and/or 5) making a purchase out of her store (one entry for every purchase).

Be sure to leave a new comment for each additional entry!

In addition, until April 7th she will be offering a 20% discount to all A Girl and Her Scout readers! YAY!!! Just use key word "girlandherscout" at check out to receive your discount!!!

Thanks again Lori for your inspiring words! 

Midweek Artist Highlight and Giveaway!

 

Wooden Bowl with Spindels 

This week we are welcoming vintage artist/collector Patti who has two great vintage stores cabin windows and Northern Lodge.  They are both filled with so many beautiful goodies! She is here with an interview, a giveaway, and a discount for our readers so CHECK IT OUT!!!

Some of my favorites from her stores:

Vintage Clutch 

Vintage Baby Dress 

Vintage Tin

Rooster vase

Hey Patti! Welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your wonderful vintage collection.
I'd love to tell you that I come from a family who LOVES antiques, and that someday I will inherit wonderful things that have been passed down for generations. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that my mom thinks everything looks better with a NEW coat of paint, and she is horrified that I am enamored with chippy paint. Anything that once resembled a "family heirloom" was left behind at our cabins when my parents sold our island property.  I got started collecting antiques when I owned my own landscaping business...people were always giving me "junk" to haul away. Before long, I had a booth in the antique mall and a new business..dealing antiques.  One of my favorite past times is collecting things that remind me of my childhood in Canada..berry buckets, minnow pails, fish decoys to name a few.

Besides the vintage items you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?
I'm a Biologist-so anything that involves Nature or the outdoors is my idea of wonderful. I canoe, fish, garden, and chase birds around with binoculars. I write poetry, dabble in nature photography, and I hike with my three dogs. I love to read and spend time with any of my four great kids-who are all grown-up now-sigh.

What first drew you to vintage wares?
I was drawn to vintage because I wanted to create a comfortable, warm "day at the cabin" feel in my home. I want people to feel like they are on a mini-vacation, when they step into our cabin. I love to tell stories and when someone asks me..what is that, or how was that used..they get one of those stories, and in return I often get one of their childhood stories.

What inspires what you put in your shop?
I love anything with a story..patina and chipped paint tell stories. I am especially attracted to the things that remind me of my Canadian roots-snowshoes, sleds, ice skates, fishing tackle.. Love the naive, primitive look too.

What advice would you give to aspiring vintage artists and Etsy shop owners?
Your Etsy shop is never finished..keep working to make it better. Find yourself a wonderful friend on Etsy like I did.. Anita from Rollinghillsvintage is my Etsy bestie and we both inspire each other to new heights.

In addition to such inspiring words, Patti is hosting a giveaway here at A Girl and Her Scout! She will be giving away this vintage crock, and some wonderful vintage linen from her stash.

The winner will be chosen (via a random assorter) on March 16th so be sure to get in your entries by then!

To enter, head over to her Etsy Stores, cabinwindows, and Northernlodge and leave a comment here about your favorite item(s). Additional entries for: 1) becoming a first time follower of A Girl and Her Scout 2) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your blog 3) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your facebook and/or twitter 4) “Hearting” or adding cabinwindows to your “Favorites” on Etsy and/or 5) making a purchase out of either of her stores (one entry for every purchase) 6) following Patti's blog found here

Be sure to leave a new comment for each additional entry!

In addition, until March 23rd she will be offering a 10% discount to all A Girl and Her Scout readers! YAY!!! Just use key word “girlandherscout" at check out to receive your discount.

Thank you for sharing such inspiring thoughts Patti!